WASHINGTON, DC - Service Employees International Union (SEIU) International President Mary Kay Henry issued the following statement after the Senate passed the The Middle Class Tax Cut Act":

"Senate passage of the 'Middle Class Tax Cut Act' is a welcome statement of intent by a majority of Senators that it is time for the top 2% of Americans to start paying their fair share in taxes. Majority Leader Reid deserves great credit for calling the Republicans' bluff and putting them on the record for protecting tax giveaways for the wealthy.

"Still, while millions of working families struggle to make ends meet, a minority of Senators voted to protect the status quo that enables the wealthiest 2% of Americans to avoid paying their fair share.

"We need to restore fairness to our tax system. Fairness is a bedrock value of our democracy - one that establishes equal treatment for all. Preserving tax giveaways for the wealthy runs counter to this value and is exactly the wrong approach to broadening our economic recovery.

"With this vote, we now know who Senators stand with - working families or the wealthiest 2%."

"

###